Elderly warned over doorstep con tricks

Bogus callers and rogue traders are plaguing elderly and vulnerable residents in Cannock Chase.

A warning over the increase in conmen trying to cheat people out of their savings was issued after council street wardens pursued a man returning to the home of awoman he had targeted previously.

The elderly victim, who lives near Cannock's Asda store, was being visited by the wardens last week after she complained that a bogus caller had attempted to trick her into letting him carry out work at her home.

By coincidence, the man, said to be white with an Irish accent, went back to the house while the wardens were there taking details from her and giving advice.

Cannock Chase Council's cabinet member for safer and stronger communities, Councillor John Jillings, said: "This unsolicited caller arrived at the house and said the lady's garden needed considerable work, despite it being immaculate.

"The street wardens tried to keep him talking, but he left. They followed him, but he got away."

Councillor Jillings says the number of incidents over recent weeks is a worry, and wants to make potential targets aware of unscrupulous criminals who cold-call.

"I am worried about the increase in this type of incident recently and the fact that the elderly and vulnerable are the obvious targets for these rogue traders and bogus callers.

"With the economy the way it is at the moment, the problem could get even worse. There have been a number of such cases in recent weeks, including a man offering to relay the driveway of a Pebble Mill Drive property that clearly didn't need any work.

"They very often do shoddy or incomplete work and then demand extortionate amounts of money."

Trading standards has a 24-hour response number on 07773 792252 and a trader register on www. staffordshire.gov.uk/trading.